Poultry package



Jan. 27,` 1959 H. F. MARTENS 2,871,131

POULTRYPACKAGE I Filed Dec. 1o. 1954 ATTORNEY United States Patent O POULTRY PACKAGE Henry F. Martens, Lincoln, Ill., assigner to Armour and Company, Chicago, Ill., 4a corporation of Illinois Application December 10, 1954, Serial No. 474,351

4 Claims. (Cl. 99-194) This invention relates to a unique package unit, and more particularly to a novel poultry package.

The production of perishable articles such as foodstuffs requires preservative treatment to prevent decomposition and spoilage thereof. The preservative treatment generally employed involves refrigeration of the perishable articles during manufacture and storage. In the packaging of dressed fowls for shipment to the retailer, it has been the practice to enclose such fowls in wirebound wooden crates. These crates are usually lined with a wax fiber material to prevent discoloration of the bird carcass by the action of water on the wood of the crate. The foWls are generally refrigerated by packing wet ice around the carcasses.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a package unit including perishable articles wherein the assembling and packaging operation is rendered expeditious and economical. It is a further object of this invention to provide a poultry package wherein the wrapper thereof is readily disposable after shipment and stor age have been terminated. Still another object of this invention is to provide a poultry package wherein the product may be stored over prolonged period of time without causing discoloration of the poultry by the wrapper material. In addition, it is an object of this invention to provide a package unit including perishable articles wherein the sanitation dithculties are substantially overcome.

The unique package unit of the present invention includes perishable articles in combination with a liqueiiable refrigerant material enclosed in a wrapper having orifices so positioned as to provide drainage of molten Irefrigerant material. The perishable articles are disposed within the wrapper substantially subjacent to the refrigerant material.

The present invention may be more fully described by reference to the following drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective elevational view of a package especially adapted for employment with dressed fowls,

Fig. 2 is a bottom view of this package depicting the special drainage orifices,

Fig. 3 is a view in perspective showing a cut away end portion ofthis package, showing the relationship between strata of dressed poultry and the liqueiiable refrigerant material,

Fig. 4 is a top view in perspective of the parcel depicting, in one embodiment of this invention, the spacing and interlocking of the poultry legs to provide rigid support for the package, and

Fig. 5 is a detail view showing a special valve opening, employed in one embodiment of this invention to provide access to the interior of the package to permit the refilling thereof with refrigerant material.

In the packages shown in the accompanying drawings, dressed chicken carcasses 11 in combination with cracked wet ice 12 are enclosed in pouch 13 (see Fig. 4).

The pouch 13 may be of any suitable material. However, it is preferred to employ a pouch having panels `terial from the outside atmosphere.

"ice

which aiord protective insulation of the refrigerant ma- Furthermore it is desirable to employ a pouch having panels substantially impervious to water. This pouch should be substantially flexible, and preferably the pouch material should be of fibrous origin. The desirable insulative properties of this pouch may be obtained by employing a multi-ply or multi-wall paper bag. An especially desirable material for employment as the pouch in the package of this invention is termed in the art wet-strength paper. This paper is chemically treated so as to be provided with greater tensile strength, when moistened with water, than the untreated paper. Moreover, such paper is less susceptible to deterioration by the effect of water thereon than other papers.

The drainage orifices 14 (see Fig. 2) are so positioned as to provide drainage of molten ice 12. Preferably, such orifices are located on that portion of the pouch which is disposed toward the resting surface when the package unit is arranged in an upright position. The number and placement of these orifices may be varied widely, and is relative to the desired degree of elimination of molten refrigerant material from the interior of the parcel. Also, the size and shape of the drainage orifices may be varied widely.

The dressed chicken carcasses 11 should be arranged within pouch 13 so as to be substantially subjacent to wet ice 12 (see Figs. 3 and 4.) It is desirable to dispose carcasses 11 in layers within pouch 13. It is even more desirable to arrange chicken carcasses 11 so that the leg portions 15 thereof are directed substantially toward the center line of the package. When such carcasses are disposed in layers, wherein rows of carcasses are so arranged that leg portions of two rows thereof are in opposition to each other, the opposing leg portions may be interlaced and interlocked to provide increased rigidity of support forsthe package. It will be understood that, a1- though any perishable article may suitably be included in the package unit of this invention it is preferred to employ foodstuffs, and especially desirable results are obtained with fresh meats and meat products. If desired, the perishable articles may be suitably arranged within the pouch to provide increased support for the package. However, in any event such articles should be so disposed within such package unit as to be substantially subjacent to the refrigerant material.

The cracked wet ice 12 should be disposed within pouch 13 so as to form strata substantially superimposed upon dressed chicken carcasses 11 (see Figs. 3 and 4). If desired, the wet ice may be employed in the form of chunks or shavings. It, however, will be understood that any liquefiable refrigerant material may suitably be employed in the package unit of this invention. A portion of the wet ice 12 may suitably be introduced between layers of dressed chicken carcasses. The general disposition of wet ice 12 with pouch 13 should be such as to provide owage of the molten ice or water around and between dressed chicken carcasses 11 to be eliminated from the package through drainage orifices 14.

Pouch 13 is closed to form an envelope by stitching seam 16 on the upper portion of pouch 13 and seam 17 at the bottom of pouch 13 (see Figs. l and 2). This closure of pouch 13 may be provided by a variety of methods. For example, this closure may be effected by wire, a draw string, staples, tape and paste. In practice, it is desirable to prepare pouch 13 by forming the closure at seam 17, and after introducing the perishable articles and refrigerant material thereinto, to seal the package at seam 16.

In another embodiment of this invention, pouch 13 is provided with a special valve-opening 18 (see Fig. 5) to provide access to the interior of the package for replenishment of wet ice 12 during shipment and storage.

Valve 18 is provided with opening 19 which communicates with the interior of pouch 13. The closure of this opening is effected by turning inwardly lips 2i) of valve 18. rlhe inwardl turning ofA lips 20 provide sucient insulat-ive closure ofpouchV 13,V but it is. desirable to sealy valve 13 by stitching or staplingJ the exposed portion thereof after inwardlyV turninglips 20.

It will be apparent that this flexible pouch should be such that it may be stored in the collapsed state prior to employment in the preparation of the package unit. in addition, the collapsed pouches, in stacked relation, may be adapted to mechanical opening and closing in a packaging operation. Furthermore the compactness and flexible shape of the package unit provides extreme desirability in` stacking and storing thereof during shipment.

While in the foregoing specification, various embodiments of the present invention have been. set forth and specific details thereof have been elaborated for the purpose of illustration, it will be understood that this invention is. susceptible to other embodiments and that many of these details may be varied widely without departing from the basic concept and spirit of the invention.

I claim:

l. A poultry package adapted for shipping dressed poultry under refrigeration comprising a flexible waterimpervious pouch having perforations in the base thereof adapted to permit egress of fluids from the poultry package, said pouch being formed generally in the shape of ay rectangular box by means of folds and stitched seams, said pouch being provided with a valve opening in the upper portion thereof, said valve opening being located in an upper stitched seam and being adapted to permit the placement of a liquetiable refrigerant material in said pouch, plurality of dressed poultry disposed within said pouch in strata and parallel rows in which the leg portions of said dressed poultry are faced inwardly within said pouch and are interlaced to provide structural support for saidpouch, and a liqueable refrigerant material situated over said dressed poultry.

Cil

2. The poultry package of claim 1 wherein said lique able refrigerant material is ice.

3. The poultry package of claim 1 wherein said eX- ible water-impervious pouch is formed of multiply paper which has been treated to be water-impervious.

4. A poultry package adapted for shipping dressed poultry under refrigerationv comprising a exible waterimpervious pouch having perforations in the base thereof to permit the egress of fluids from the poultry package7 said pouch being formed generally in the shape of a rectangular box by means of folds and stitched seams, said pouch being provided with a valve -opening in the upper portion thereof, said valve opening being located in an upper stitched seam and being adapted to permit the placement of crushed ice in said pouch, a plurality of dressed poultry disposed in said pouch in strata and parallel rows in which the leg portions of said dressed poultry are faced inwardly within said pouch and are interlaced to provide structural support for said pouch, and a liqueliable refrigerant material situated over said dressed poultry.

References Cited inthe file of this patent UNI-TED STATES PATENTS 1,081,945 Bitter Dec. 23, 191-3' 1,911,361 Grande May 30, 1933 2,136,041 Conn Nov. 8, 1938 2,174,924 McCleary Oct. 3, 1939 2,177,919 Vogt Oct. 31', 1939 2,203,033 Speigl June 4, 1940 2,302,639 Moore NOV. 7, 1942 2,369,716 Coghill Feb. 20, 1945 2,664,358 Eichler Dec. 29, 19531 2,678,543 Lapetina` May 18, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 348,443 Great Britain May 14, l93l` 

1. A POULRY PACKAGE ADAPTED FOR SHIPPING DRESSED POULTRY UNDER REFRIGERATION COMPRISING A FLEXIBLE WATERIMPREVIOUS POUCH HAVING PERFORATIONS IN THE BASE THEREOF ADAPTED TO PERMIT EGRESS OF FLUIDS FROM THE POULTRY PACKAGE, SAID POUCH BEING FORMED GENERALLY IN THE SHAPE OF A RECTANGULAR BOX BY MEANS OF FOLDS AND STITCHED SEAMS, SAID POUCH BEING PROVIDED WITH A VALVE OPENING IN THE UPPER PORTION THEREOF, SAID VALVE OPENING BEING LOCATED IN AN UPPER STITCHED SEAM AND BEING ADAPTED TO PERMIT THE PLACEMENT OF A LIQUEFIABLE REFRIGERANT MATERIAL IN SAID POUCH, PLURALITY OF DRESSED POULTRY DISPOSED WITHIN SAID POUCH IN STRATA AND PARALLEL ROWS IN WHICH THE LEG PORTIONS OF SAID DRESSED POULTRY ARE FACED INWARDLY WITHIN SAID POUCH AND ARE INTERLACED TO PROVIDE STRUCTURAL SUPPORT FOR SAID POUCH, AND A LIQUIDFIABLE REFRIGERANT MATERIAL SITUATED OVER SAID DRESSED POULTRY. 